Dynamic lookup service in a distributed system
First Claim
1. A method in a distributed system having a lookup service with associated network services available in the distributed system and having a client accessing the network services, the method comprising the steps of:
- adding a device to the distributed system, the device containing a new client having a new service;
broadcasting an object by the new client, the object containing code for communicating with the new client;
receiving the object by a discovery server, and using the code to send a reference to the lookup service to the new client by the discovery server;
receiving the reference by the new client; and
adding an indication of the new service to the lookup service by the new client such that the network services associated with the lookup service remain accessible during the adding of the new service.
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Abstract
An improved lookup service is provided that allows for the dynamic addition and deletion of services. This lookup service allows for the addition and deletion of services automatically, without user intervention. As a result, clients of the lookup service may continue using the lookup service and its associated services while the updates occur. Additionally, the lookup service provides a notification mechanism that can be used by clients to receive a notification when the lookup service is updated. By receiving such a notification, clients can avoid attempting to access a service that is no longer available and can make use of new services as soon as they are added to the lookup service.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A method in a distributed system having a lookup service with associated network services available in the distributed system and having a client accessing the network services, the method comprising the steps of:
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adding a device to the distributed system, the device containing a new client having a new service;
broadcasting an object by the new client, the object containing code for communicating with the new client;
receiving the object by a discovery server, and using the code to send a reference to the lookup service to the new client by the discovery server;
receiving the reference by the new client; and
adding an indication of the new service to the lookup service by the new client such that the network services associated with the lookup service remain accessible during the adding of the new service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method in a data processing system having a lookup service with associated services available for use in the data processing system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to update the lookup service; and
updating the lookup service such that services unaffected by the update continue to be available for use while the update occurs. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method in a data processing system having a lookup service with associated services, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to be notified when the lookup service is updated;
determining when the lookup service is updated; and
generating a notification when it is determined that the lookup service is updated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method in a data processing system having a lookup service with associated services, comprising the steps of:
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sending a request to the lookup service to be notified when the lookup service is updated; and
receiving a notification that the lookup service has been updated. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A data processing system comprising:
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a memory containing;
a lookup service having indications of services that are available for use;
a first client for updating the lookup service; and
a second client for utilizing the lookup service while the first client is updating the lookup service; and
at least one processor for running the lookup service, the first client, and the second client.
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23. A data processing system comprising:
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a memory containing;
a lookup service with indications of services available for use, the lookup service for receiving requests for notification of when the lookup service is updated, for determining when the lookup service is updated, and for generating notifications when the lookup service is updated; and
a client for sending a request to the lookup service to be notified when the lookup service is updated; and
at least one processor for running the client and the lookup service. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A computer-readable memory device containing a data structure used for accessing a lookup service with associated network services available for use, the data structure containing:
a notify method for use by a client to register with the lookup service to receive a notification from the lookup service when the lookup service is updated.
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26. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a lookup service with associated services available for use in the data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to update the lookup service; and
updating the lookup service such that services unaffected by the update continue to be available for use while the update occurs. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a lookup service with associated services, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request by the lookup service to be notified when the lookup service is updated;
determining when the lookup service is updated; and
generating a notification when it is determined that the lookup service is updated. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method, the data processing system having a lookup service with associated services, the method comprising the steps of:
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sending a request to the lookup service to be notified when the lookup service is updated; and
receiving a notification that the lookup service has been updated. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method in a distributed system for accessing network services, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request from a client for access to a network service;
retrieving a reference from a cache reflecting a particular network service corresponding to the requested network service; and
transmitting the reference to the client.
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41. A method in a distributed system having a client and a client lookup manager with an associated cache, said method comprising the steps, performed by the client, of:
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sending a request to the client lookup manager for a network service; and
receiving a reference to a particular network service from the cache associated with the client lookup manager. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A method in a distributed system having a lookup service with associated network services and a client lookup manager with an associated cache, the method comprising the steps of:
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sending a request by the client lookup manager to the lookup service identifying one of the associated network services to be accessed;
receiving said request by the lookup service;
transmitting an object, responsive to the request, wherein the object provides a service reference to one of the associated network services;
receiving said response by the client lookup manager; and
storing the service reference in the associated cache. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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44. The method of 43 further comprising the step of transmitting at least one service reference to the client.
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51. A method in a distributed system having a lookup service with associated network services and a client lookup manager with an associated cache, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an event by the lookup service that identifies a change to one of the associated network services;
receiving said event by the client lookup manager; and
updating the associated cache to reflect the change. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A distributed system comprising:
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a server computer with a lookup service having service references to a plurality of network services; and
a client computer including a client lookup manager with an associated cache, wherein said client lookup manager accesses the lookup service and stores service references in the cache.
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60. A distributed system having a first computer with a client, a client lookup manager with an associated cache, and a second computer with a lookup service containing service references for accessing associated network services, the distributed system comprising:
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means for transmitting a request by the client lookup manager to the lookup service identifying at least one of the associated network services to be accessed;
means for receiving the request by a lookup service;
means for transmitting an object, responsive to the request, wherein the object provides a service reference to at least one network service of interest;
means for receiving said response, by the client lookup manager; and
means for storing the service reference in the associated cache.
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61. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method for accessing network services, the data processing system having a software cache and a lookup service with associated services, available for use in the data processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for access to a network service;
retrieving a reference from a cache reflecting a particular network service associated with the requested network service; and
transmitting the reference to the client.
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62. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method in a distributed system having a client and a client lookup manager with an associated cache, the method comprising the steps of:
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sending a request to the client lookup manager for a network service;
receiving a reference to a particular network service associated with the requested network service, wherein said reference is stored in the cache. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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64. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system having a lookup service with associated network services available in the distributed system and having a client lookup manager with an associated cache, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a request by the client lookup manager;
receiving said request by a lookup service;
transmitting an object, responsive to the request, wherein the object provides a service reference to at least one network service of interest;
receiving said response, by the client lookup manager; and
storing the service reference in the associated cache. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system having a lookup service with associated network services available in a distributed system and having a client lookup manager with an associated cache, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an event by the lookup service, said event notifies the client lookup manager of a change;
receiving said event by the client lookup manager; and
updating the cache to reflect the change. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification